solely in general

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "solely in general" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is contradictory because "solely" implies exclusivity, while "in general" suggests a broader context. Example: "The findings of the study apply solely in general to the population, which is confusing."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

For example, MCP-1 and IL-6 were associated with both general inflammation and bone destruction, in contrast to MIP-1β, which was involved solely in general synovitis.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

In Australia, annual checks for the four care processes were consistently higher for patients receiving specialist services than those cared for solely in general practice (see Tables 6 and 7).

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In the end, 31 of these patients — including the patient mentioned above with the complicated tibia/fibula fracture — were sent to hospital for further treatment in 2009 and 6 were treated solely in the general practice.> -wrap-foot> Notes: Fractures = Fractures and/or dislocations.

BMC Family Practice

"Parents Hungry for A B C's Find Schools Don't Add Up" (front page, April 28) tells of parents opting for schools that teach their children about long division, not Kite Day, and about World War II in general, not solely the Holocaust.

The New York Times

py = pack year This study demonstrates the difficulties in diagnosing obstructive airway diseases in general practice solely on the basis of clinical signs and symptoms.

BMC Family Practice

Reasons for the low number of women identified with GDM might include the non-universal screening of women for GDM, 'lost' paper-based records, women attending other diabetes antenatal clinics in the region or women treated solely in primary care or general antenatal clinics.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Both the critics who never were, who kept their silence (reserving their fame for their own productions solely and withholding it from literature in general), and the critics who decided to speak up but who -- in the face of Oswald's Law and other discouragements -- chose to lower the volume and blunt the tone so as to blend with the general muted hum.

The New York Times - Books

We show that these new derivations are superior with respect to standard dispute derivations in that they are complete in general, rather than solely for restricted classes of ABA frameworks.

Artificial Intelligence

That is, we hope to have developed classifiers that to at least some significant extent classify based on hurricane and crises behavior in general, rather than solely being able to classifying Sandy-specific data.

Security Informatics

While the challenges of the current environment may help send some market share away from the traditional heavyweights, the stress on the market in general is not solely limited to the biggest names on Wall Street.

Forbes

6 This finding indicates that increased life expectancy in general is not solely responsible for the improved survival reported in our study.

Clinical Epidemiology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "solely in general" in formal writing. Due to its contradictory nature, it introduces ambiguity and weakens the intended message. Rephrase to clarify whether you intend to emphasize exclusivity or generality.

Common error

Don't assume readers will intuitively grasp your meaning when using "solely in general". This phrase's inherent contradiction requires careful rephrasing to ensure clarity. Determine whether you need to stress a single aspect within a broader context, or if general applicability is the main point.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "solely in general" functions as an attempt to qualify a statement, but it fails due to internal contradiction. "Solely" indicates exclusivity, while "in general" suggests broad applicability. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase does not convey a clear meaning.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "solely in general" presents a linguistic challenge due to its contradictory nature. As Ludwig AI points out, "solely" implies exclusivity, while "in general" suggests a broad context, leading to ambiguity. While some examples exist, they do not legitimize its use in formal writing. It is recommended to rephrase to emphasize either exclusivity or generality, using alternatives such as "exclusively in general terms" or "broadly speaking", depending on the intended meaning. Prioritizing clarity over potentially confusing expressions ensures effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Exclusively in general terms

Replaces "solely" with "exclusively" to still mean limited to a particular area, clarifying the generality is regarding the terms.

Only in broad strokes

Emphasizes the generality by specifying that only the broad aspects are considered, replacing "solely" with "only".

Primarily in general

Uses "primarily" instead of "solely", weakening the exclusivity claim and focusing on the general aspect.

Mainly in general

Similar to "primarily in general", this highlights the general context as the main focus, diluting the exclusivity.

Purely for general purposes

Highlights general usage by using the term "purely", emphasizing general applications instead of specific or narrow uses.

Generally, and nothing else

This alternative underscores the breadth of "in general" while explicitly excluding specifics, attempting to reconcile the contradiction.

In general, without specifics

Directly states the absence of specific details, making the general nature explicit and addressing the exclusivity implicitly.

Broadly speaking

Focuses entirely on the generality, omitting any sense of exclusivity and simplifying the statement.

On the whole

Similar to "broadly speaking", this emphasizes a comprehensive view, neglecting any exclusivity.

Typically, in a general sense

Highlights typicality and generality, sidelining any exclusive considerations and focusing on conventional understanding.

FAQs

Why is "solely in general" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "solely in general" is considered grammatically incorrect because "solely" implies exclusivity or being limited to one thing, while "in general" suggests a broad or widespread application. These two concepts contradict each other, creating a confusing and unclear statement. Ludwig AI confirms this analysis.

What are some alternatives to "solely in general" that better convey exclusivity?

If you intend to emphasize exclusivity, consider using phrases like "exclusively in general terms", "only in broad strokes", or "purely for general purposes". These alternatives provide a clearer indication of the intended meaning.

How can I rephrase "solely in general" to focus on generality rather than exclusivity?

To emphasize generality, you can use phrases such as "broadly speaking", "on the whole", or "typically in a general sense". These options remove the contradictory element and highlight the comprehensive nature of the statement.

In what contexts might the phrase "solely in general" be used, even if it's not grammatically ideal?

While not grammatically ideal, "solely in general" might appear in informal contexts where precision is not critical. However, for clarity and effective communication, it is advisable to replace it with a more appropriate and less contradictory phrase. Ludwig's examples show occasional usage in science and news contexts, but clarity should always be prioritized.